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If you're a U.S. military retiree and don't think you can afford a luxury trip to Honolulu or overseas adventure near the Bavarian Alps, think again. When you retire, the flight and lodging benefits you earned during your time in the U.S. armed forces remain in effect. In fact, even if you're under the age of 60 and have yet to receive retirement pay, as long as you have retirement eligibility, you can take advantage of retiree travel benefits.

Space Available Flights Basics

Space Available Travel, often referred to simply as "Space A" or military hops, lets military retirees and their legal dependents fly on Air Force or Department of Defense-operated flights with empty seats. Although the U.S. military doesn't publicize the cost of these fares, the Air Mobility Command, which provides flights for all branches of the U.S. armed forces, says that Space A lets you "travel all over the world for almost nothing." As of 2012, these flights arrive and depart from more than 50 military gateways at domestic and international airports servicing military aircraft, such as Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.Flexibility is a must for Space A travel, which isn't reliable if you absolutely need to get to your destination at a certain date and time, and it can't be used for business enterprises or civilian employment. Passengers on official duty and essential cargo get first priority, and even Space A travelers are ranked by priority -- retirees are class VI, which is the lowest priority level. As a result, you might lose your seat if a higher-ranking Space A traveler, such as an active-duty soldier, is on the roster. When you and another retiree are on the list for the same flight, the person who signed up first gets the seat. You also can be refused travel mid-itinerary on Space A flights; for example, if the plane has a stop halfway to its final destination and picks up higher-priority passengers, you might get bumped and have to pay for a pricy commercial flight to get home.

Getting a Flight

As of 2012, four different methods of Space A signup exist. After filling out the Air Mobility Command Form 140, you can go in person to the Passenger Service Center, or PSC, at the gateway from which you intend to depart, or sign up remotely via fax, email or U.S. mail. When you sign up, you can request up to five possible destinations, but because flight times aren't publicized online, you must contact the PSC for specific information. The AMC explains that you'll find out "as early as five hours and as late as two hours prior to departure" whether seats are available. Dependents must be sponsored by you and cannot travel without you. On the day of travel, you must sign in at the PSC. If traveling overseas, you and your dependents will need passports and any necessary visas for your final destination. Children over age 10 can use a military dependent card for domestic and international flights, the AMC says, but younger children must have a birth certificate or government documentation, such as a passport. Per the Department of Defense, as the retiree you must have at least one of the following documents when you travel Space A: a blue DD Form 2 Retired U.S. Armed Forces Identification Card, a blue DD Form 2 NOAA Retired Uniformed Services Identification Card or a blue PHS Form 1866-3 Retired U.S. Public Health Service Identification Card.

On-Base Lodging

Temporary housing is available on base for retirees on vacation or traveling on business. The Department of Defense Lodging website lets you search for available rooms offered through the Air Force, Navy, Army and Marine Corps, but you'll need to book a room with the base directly, by phone. Accommodations often boast hotel-like housing, such as the Navy Lodge, which has locations in cities that include San Diego, New York City, Key West, Fla., and Norfolk, Va. You'll also find rooms at overseas bases in such countries as Japan, Germany and Italy. Rates vary by location but are usually well under $100 per night.

Armed Forces Recreation Centers

Armed Forces Recreation Centers are off-base luxury resorts and hotels in countries with U.S. bases. Offered through the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program, the resorts operate in the spirit of leisure and offer more amenities than you'll usually see in base housing. Among the places you can visit are the Shades of Green Resort in Orlando inside the Walt Disney World Resort and the Dragon Hill Lodge in South Korea, which sits in the heart of Seoul. You can book your reservations directly with each resort, which also can explain what documentation it requires at check in, such as DD forms or other military ID. Recreation Center rates generally range between $65 and $150 per night. Like any hotel, what you pay depends on such considerations as peak travel times and how good the view is from your room.

About the Author

Lara Webster has been writing professionally since 2009. Her work has been featured on Relationships in the Raw, The Nursery Book, Spark Trust and several travel-related websites. Webster holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in mass communication and media studies, both from San Diego State University.

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